Help to grow has paid for itself ‘twenty times over’

But a new course, subsidised by the Government, can help build resilience and productivity, giving businesses a better chance to survive and thrive.

Delivered by the University of Salford Business School, Help to Grow: Management takes place over twelve weeks, with new courses starting throughout the year. The next one starts in September, places are available now. Teaching includes both online and face-to-face sessions with leading figures from industry and experienced entrepreneurs.

The programme covers several key areas of leadership, including strategy and innovation, growing national and international markets and adopting digital technology. It is open to all businesses with between 5 and 249 employees and 90% of the costs are covered by Government funding, leaving business to pay just £750. To reserve your place on the next course starting on September 5, contact Richard Magennis at sbs-enterprise@salford.ac.uk for more details.

And for one business that has just finished the course it has ‘paid for itself twenty times over’.

Jonathan Fagan, founder and Managing Director of the Ten Percent Group, a company which employs over 100 in various roles in offices across the country. It engages in legal recruitment, business brokerage (selling whole businesses) and academic transcription services.

Jonathan said his company was already reaping the benefits of lessons learned as part of the course. “We are hands-on doing bits from the course and using things we have learned on a daily basis,” he said.

“There was one small change to our business that was suggested, which has paid back the fees from the course twenty times over in just four weeks,” he added.

Jonathan said he had found the course to be very practical and that the networking with other business on the course as very beneficial too.

He said: “On the course you learn from lecturers but you also learn from other people on the course too. I’ve been working with our mentor and I’ve put together a business growth plan.

“It is very specific, we want to double turnover in the next two years and we are looking to double our workforce too. The course has brought huge benefits already.”